Audra Shields ’14 and Kody Shields welcomed Asher James on March 3, 2019.
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Category Archives: News
Hannah Smith ’14
Hannah Smith ’14 graduated in August 2018 from the University of Colorado with a Master’s Degree of Science in Nurse Midwifery. She also accepted a position as a staff midwife with Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.
Congratulations, Hannah!
Matt ’14 and Jill ’14 Pankau
Matt Pankau ‘14 and Jill Kawasaki ‘14, got married in September of 2018, with multiple IWU alumni in attendance.
From L to R: Jane (Mizuno) Kawasaki ‘82, Jason Pankau ‘11, Hope (Schulte) Pankau ‘11, Bethany Presutti ‘14, Cody Collinson ‘14, Tara Gracer ‘13, Matthew Pankau ‘14, Gabe Chanez ‘14, Jill Kawasaki ‘14, Joel Backs ‘14, Leah (Allen) Wheeler ‘08, Alexandra Bidner ‘15.
Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics Robert (Bob) Leekley
Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics Robert (Bob) Leekley passed away on Tuesday, Jan.1. Prof. Leekley started teaching at Illinois Wesleyan in 1974, and from his first year to his 44th, his commitment to IWU and our students remained unchanged. His positive impact on generations of students and colleagues will not be forgotten. Read an obituary. A service will be held in the IWU Evelyn Chapel from 11-12 on Wednesday, January 9th.
Pat Cavanaugh ’14
Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival screened the comedy-horror web series Dear Dark Lord, a production of alumnus Pat Cavanaugh ’14. The web series “chronicles a young woman’s dual struggles to: 1) Make it in the big city, and 2) Serve an unholy wretch known as ‘The Dark Lord.'”
The series is 8 episodes long and is aims to find “the humor and horror in searching for connection — and yourself — in early adulthood.”
Cavanaugh received his BA in English Writing and Political Science and is currently pursuing a MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage at Northwestern University’s Graduate School. His involvement and performance at improv theaters is where Dear Dark Lord began in discussion with collaborator Ryan T. Eakins.
For more information, check out the website Deardarklord.com
Veronica Watson ’14
Alumna Veronica Watson ’14 spoke at the Citizen Scholar Lecture during Illinois Wesleyan’s 2018 Homecoming. Veronica is the Indiana Director of Patronicity, which is a civic crowdfunding and crowd granting platform. They bring together local citizens and sponsors to support community initiatives. Veronica was engaged with ARC as a student at IWU then went on to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA in New Orleans and Indianapolis.
Homecoming 2018
Sara Yemm ’14
Sara Yemm ’14 is working for an auto dealership owned by her father, Rick Yemm ’78, that has been in their family for 56 years and counting.
Rick and Sara sat down with The Register-Mail to discuss working as a parent-child team, how the internet has transformed vehicle sales, and why young people might want to consider a career in the auto business. Read the full article here: http://www.galesburg.com/news/20180304/taking-care-of-business-yemm-auto-family-owned-for-56-years
Congratulations, Sara!
Bobby Nash-Castillo ’14
Bobby Nash-Castillo ’14 spoke for TEDxIWU about how to love where you live.
You can view it here.
Matt LaLonde ’14
Matt LaLonde ’14 spoke for TEDxIWU about how an idea he came up with as a student improved lives of community members.
You can watch his talk here.